1
Relationships - Introduction
Preparation
Before the lesson draw a number of concentric circles either on the board or on a sheet of paper mounted somewhere in the class room.
Cut out the pictures of Katie and the people whom she knows and stick blutak on the back of them.
Photocopy one worksheet for each class member.
Photocopy list of people for selected children.
Lesson
Tell children that this half term they are going to be thinking about relationships which is a big word which simply means all the people they know.
Ask the children to tell you some of the people they know.
Once they have named family members, get them to think about people in other classes and other people whose names they may not know. Draw their attention to the fact that they know some of these people well while others they know hardly at all.
Introduce them to Katie and put her in the centre of the concentric circles. Ask for volunteers to stick the people whom Katie knows on the board. If she knows them well, stick them close. If not so well, further away. Ask the remainder of the class to confirm or challenge the positioning. Do not include Jesus at this point.
Activities
Once you feel sure the children understand the concept, distribute the worksheets and ask them to similarly arrange their own relationships. Some children might find it helpful to have a list of people whom they have to include.
While the class are completing the worksheet, ask individuals why they have chosen to place people in certain positions. Invite them to share their relationship sheets with the rest of the class.
Bring children back to the board and tell them that Katie is a Christian. Do any of them know what that means? Where therefore should the picture of Jesus be stuck?
As a Christian, Katie believes that Jesus knows her better than anyone else in the entire world. He knows her every thought and He even knows how many hairs she has on her head.
Ask the children where they would put Jesus on their sheet.
Ask those who are willing, to draw Him on their sheet. Those who do not wish to include Him, should continue drawing other people.
Notes
Although Katie has a father and mother who love her, it is not my intention to make the children in your care ashamed of the circumstances in which they find themselves. In drawing their own relationships charts, I wish the children to be given a greater sense of security and pride.
